Jay Rockefeller

Jay Rockefeller

Democratic Party

Prior offices

West Virginia House of Delegates

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West Virginia Secretary of State

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Governor of West Virginia

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U.S. Senate West Virginia

Successor: Shelley Moore Capito

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Compensation

Net worth

$101,290,514.50

Education

High school

Phillips Academy, Exeter, N.H.

Bachelor's

Harvard University

Jay Rockefeller (b. June 18, 1937, in New York City, N.Y.) was a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from the state of West Virginia. Rockefeller was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and served until 2015.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Rockefeller served as the Governor of West Virginia, West Virginia Secretary of State and in the West Virginia House of Delegates.^[1]

Biography

Rockefeller was born in New York City in 1937. Rockefeller attended Phillips Academy in Exeter, N.H. After graduating from Harvard University, Rockefeller joined a volunteer group whose work took him to West Virginia. After two years in the state, he became a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.^[2][3]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Rockefeller's political career:^[1]

• 1985-2015: U.S. Senator from West Virginia
• 1977-1985: Governor of West Virginia
• 1968-1972: West Virginia Secretary of State
• 1966-1968: West Virginia House of Delegates

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2013-2014

Rockefeller served on the following Senate committees:^[4]

• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Finance
  • The Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
  • The Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
  • The Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
  • The Subcommittee on Healthcare Chair
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2011-2012

Rockefeller served on the following committees:^[5]

• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety
  • Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism
  • Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
  • Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Finance
  • Subcommittee on Health Care Chair
  • Subcommittee on International Trade, and Global Competitiveness
  • Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Joint Committee on Taxation
• United States Trade Advisor

Key votes

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.^[6] The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Rockefeller's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.^[7]

National security

John Brennan CIA nomination

Rockefeller voted for the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination.^[8]

Economy

No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013

Rockefeller voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill.^[9]

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

During the shutdown in October 2013, the Senate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.^[10] The final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill from Republican members. Rockefeller voted with the Democratic Party for the bill.^[11]

Immigration

Mexico-U.S. border

Rockefeller voted against Senate Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines.^[12]

Social issues

Violence Against Women (2013)

Rockefeller voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans.^[13]

Previous congressional sessions

Fiscal cliff

Rockefeller voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003, while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.^[14]

Elections

2014

See also: United States Senate elections in West Virginia, 2014

On January 11, 2013, Rockefeller announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014, citing the extra time retirement would allow him to spend with his family.^[15]

The FiscalTimes compiled a list of the seven most vulnerable Senate seats up for election in 2014. The seven included in the list were: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. Going into the 2014 election, all seven seats were held by Democrats.^[16]

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Jay Rockefeller, click [show] to expand the section.

2008 On November 4, 2008, Rockefeller won re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Jay Wolfe (R), John R. "Rick" Bartlett (Write-in) and Chad Shaffer (Write-in).[17] U.S. Senate, West Virginia, General election, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic John D. Rockefeller IV Incumbent 63.7% 447,560      Republican Jay Wolfe 36.3% 254,629      Write-in John R. "Rick" Bartlett 0% 83      Write-in Chad Shaffer 0% 36 Total Votes 702,308 2002 On November 5, 2002, Jay Rockefeller won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Jay Wolfe (R) in the general election.[18] U.S. Senate, West Virginia General Election, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jay Rockefeller incumbent 63.1% 275,281      Republican Jay Wolf 36.9% 160,902 Total Votes 436,183 1996 On November 5, 1996, Jay Rockefeller won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Betty Burks (R) in the general election.[19] U.S. Senate, West Virginia General Election, 1996 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jay Rockefeller incumbent 76.6% 456,526      Republican Betty Burks 23.4% 139,088 Total Votes 595,614 1990 On November 6, 1990, Jay Rockefeller won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated John Yoder (R) in the general election.[20] U.S. Senate, West Virginia General Election, 1990 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jay Rockefeller incumbent 68.3% 276,234      Republican John Yoder 31.7% 128,071 Total Votes 404,305 1984 On November 6, 1984, Jay Rockefeller won election to the United States Senate. He defeated John Raese (R) and Mary Radin (T) in the general election.[21] U.S. Senate, West Virginia General Election, 1984 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jay Rockefeller 51.8% 374,233      Republican John Raese 47.7% 344,680      Socialist Workers Mary Radin 0.5% 3,299 Total Votes 722,212

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Rockefeller's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $63,269,025 to $139,312,004. That averages to $101,290,514.50, which is higher than the average net worth of Democratic Senate members in 2012 of $13,566,333.90. Rockefeller ranked as the 3rd most wealthy senator in 2012.^[22] Between 2004 and 2012, Rockefeller's calculated net worth^[23] decreased by an average of 2 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.^[24]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Rockefeller was the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the chair of the Subcommittee on Healthcare. Rockefeller received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Lawyers/Law Firms industry.

From 1989-2014, 24.96 percent of Rockefeller's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.^[27]

Analysis

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracked the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she voted most and least often. The results included a member from each party.^[28]

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Rockefeller was a "rank-and-file Democrat," as of August 2014.^[29] This was the same rating Rockefeller received in July 2013.^[30]

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Rockefeller missed 541 of 9,992 roll call votes from January 1985 to July 2014. This amounted to 5.4 percent, which was worse than the median of 2.0 percent among senators serving as of July 2014.^[31]

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Rockefeller paid his congressional staff a total of $2,664,847 in 2011. He ranked 24th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic senatorial staff salaries and ranked 62nd overall of the lowest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, West Virginia ranked 22nd in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.^[32]

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Rockefeller ranked 18th in the liberal rankings in 2013.^[33]

2012

Rockefeller ranked 18th in the liberal rankings in 2012.^[34]

2011

Rockefeller ranked 12th in the liberal rankings in 2011.^[35]

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Rockefeller voted with the Democratic Party 94.3 percent of the time, which ranked 33rd among the 53 Senate Democratic members as of August 2014.^[36]

2013

Rockefeller voted with the Democratic Party 93.9 percent of the time, which ranked 33rd among the 52 Senate Democratic members as of June 2013.^[37]

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rockefeller married Sharon Percy Rockefeller in 1967. They have four children and six grandchildren.^[3]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Jay + Rockefeller + West Virginia + Senate

See also

• List of U.S. Congress incumbents not running for re-election in 2014
• U.S. Senate delegation from West Virginia
• United States congressional delegations from West Virginia
• United States Senate elections in West Virginia, 2014

External links

Footnotes

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